Max Verstappen has explained the cause behind his dramatic 360-degree spin at the start of the 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, an incident that immediately compromised his chances of victory from the front row.
The Red Bull Racing driver launched an aggressive move into Turn 1 but lost track position when Charles Leclerc executed a cutback into Turn 2. Under heavy fuel load conditions, Verstappen experienced rear-end instability, triggering sudden oversteer and a full spin in traffic.
From a technical standpoint, the combination of high fuel weight and aggressive throttle application played a key role in the rear grip loss. While the medium compound offered strong initial traction, its sensitivity to load transfer made the car vulnerable during rapid direction changes, particularly in close combat situations.
Following the incident, Verstappen recovered with competitive pace on the medium tyres. However, the switch to the hard compound exposed a drop in performance, especially in tyre warm-up and degradation control. This suggests the car setup was better suited to the medium tyre, particularly on Miami’s demanding surface conditions.
“It was quite hectic. I lost the rear into Turn 2, and I tried to minimise the time loss by doing the 360. I thought I was going to crash, so I floored it and managed to control it,” Verstappen said.
“With heavy fuel, once the car starts sliding, it’s very difficult to catch. The pace on mediums was good, but on hards it became much more difficult, and the stint was probably too long.”
In the closing stages, Verstappen maximised energy deployment to overtake Leclerc’s struggling Ferrari just before the finish line. This strategic battery usage proved decisive in securing fifth place and limiting points loss.
The result keeps Verstappen within reach in the championship battle despite the early setback. Addressing tyre management and rear stability will be critical for Red Bull heading into the next round, where consistency will define their ability to challenge rivals.
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